DAVID BECKHAM feels spurred on every day by an England coach and a teacher who both doubted his skills almost 20 years ago.

Becks says that he still performs at the highest level to prove the youth coach wrong – even to this day.

The 37-year-old star – who played 115 times for his country – also thanks his father, Ted, for making him keep his feet on the ground.

And the star says that he never wanted to leave Manchester United and still dreams of ending his career there.

His determination will serve him well after Stuart Pearce snubbed him from the Team GB Olympics side.

Becks confessed: “You always have to remember those times.

“I do remember that moment when I was sat in my classroom. It was a long time ago and my teacher turned around and said ‘What you do you want to do when you leave school?’

“I said ‘Be a professional football player’. And they were like ‘What do you really want to do as a job?’

I have been so successful in my career because my father has always been tough on me

David Beckham

“And I said ‘That is exactly what I want to do.’ I remember those moments, and I remember when I was just starting to become a player for Manchester United.

“I went for England trials and I didn’t make the grade. They told me I was too small and one coach said I would never play for England. I won’t ever name him.

“In my mind I will always remember those words. Fortunately I went on to play 115 times and captain my country over 50 times. So it worked out in the end.”

Becks says his father, a gas engineer, has been the key to his success in three countries.

“I am very close to my dad,” he said. “There was tough love but that is why I was so successful throughout my career, because my dad was always tough on me.

“He took me over to the park and told me to practise things. He told me the best players in the world can play with both feet, so he had me working on my left foot when I wanted to use my right all the time.

“He worked me hard. He told me when I played a good game. He told me in a roundabout way I had played well. But when I had a bad game he would tell me. It was a good thing for me.

“When I was a kid my dad used to say ‘I will tell you when you have made it’.

“And he told me when we won the Champions League with United. He said ‘Today is a good day.’

“Because my dad was a Manchester United fan from a young age, for him to see me lift the biggest club championship with a team he supported was special.

“He said ‘You know what, boy? You have done well.’

“And that for me is the only moment that I have reached the level he was proud of.”

Becks is still obsessed with Manchester United.

“United will always be my team,” he said. “When you are a true fan, you don’t change.

“My goal was to play for Manchester United from the start of my career to the end of my career.

“I had no intention of moving anywhere else.

“I was a Manchester United fan from a young age and it was my dream to wear the number seven shirt.

“But things happen and change in life. Fortunately one of the biggest teams in the world came to me.

“Tim Leiweke came and said ‘You want to play for the biggest club in the MLS and live in LA?’ I was like ‘Let’s do it.’

“I have always been lucky that I have been wanted by the biggest franchises.”